Dowagiac Steelhead 2007

First trip after being back from Europe, nearly 2 yrs since last casting a line. Went to SW Michigan for Skamanias w/ Frank and guide Jay. Was a bit slow, but I landed a heavy buck of about 10lbs with a little bit of color (this is not a picture of him below). Caught him with a traditional orange salmon fly using a down and across swing technique. He struck about 5 yds from me so as soon as he hit I saw him. Unfortunately no picture, as when the guide transferred the fish from the net to me the fish woke up and slipped away.

The second day was even slower, so I switched to a spinning rod at times which was actually quite fun. Hooked an even larger cromer from the boat in a pool by the bank - he struck as I cast upstream and started the retrieve back. He was a tail walker....saw him subsurface at first, then he came down parallel to the boat and tail walked about five splashes, went under, came up downstream from the boat for five more tail wags. Then the line went limp. The spinner shaft, a big one too, actually bent at the hook and the hook came off of the spinner body. Anyway, was good to feel a big fish after 2 yrs.

That fall, we went back and I caught this fish. As well, in the exact same spot I lost the spring cromer, I hooked another huge bright fish, but this time on a flyrod. He screamed downstream, jumped out of the water and hit himself on a branch overhang, then down stream about 75yards. then he came off. What a rush, and what a let-down.